itch.io

One thing I’d separate in the results: are those downloads linked to the same people who played the demo, or are you dividing total downloads by total plays? If it’s the second, someone could download without playing, so 84.62% wouldn’t be a player-to-download conversion rate.

People who choose to launch a demo may already be more interested, too. A useful next comparison would be the same pack with and without the embed, keeping the price and page copy unchanged. I’d still value being able to inspect the animations; I’d just keep that benefit separate from what the numbers prove.

One wrinkle with using comment time as the build ID: someone can download a ZIP, then play it after you’ve released an update. I’d put a small version number on the pause or title screen so it’s easy to check if a report doesn’t match the current build.

For “I got stuck,” I’d ask what they were trying to do just before it happened. That can help separate a broken interaction from a clue that led them in the wrong direction, without sending them off to fill out a whole form.

Good day, My friend! How's it going?

Don’t Wake the Dark (Demo)

Hey everyone! I’m Josh from upstate New York, the creator behind Solar Veil Studio. I work on horror stories, browser investigations, and atmospheric horror games.

I’m especially interested in how clues, sound, and small changes to familiar places can build tension. Looking forward to talking with other horror and mystery creators here!

Hi everyone! We’re Solar Veil Studio, and we’ve just released the Chapter One beta of Don’t Wake the Dark, our angled top-down horror game.

You play as a little girl searching for her missing family. Explore an empty home and follow the trail into rain-soaked woods, carrying an oil lantern that keeps creatures at a distance. Your fuel is running down, and a strong gust of wind can leave you in the dark.

The demo brings together lantern oil, changing wind, family clues, voiced scenes, and encounters built around what you can hear beyond the light.

Download the free Windows demo on itch.io
Windows 64-bit · Chapter One beta v0.17. Extract the entire ZIP, then run DontWakeTheDark.exe.

This is an early beta, and we’d love feedback on the tension, whether the oil and wind feel fair, and any places where the next objective is unclear. Most of all: would you want to keep playing?

We’ve also posted our first devlog with the beta details. You can leave feedback on the game page or here.

Thank you for giving our first chapter a try.
Leave a light on.
— Solar Veil Studio